MisOr gov’t breaks ground on road leading to IP community in Claveria, holds outreach

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano (fourth from left, first row) leads in the groundbreaking of a new road leading to an IP community in sitio San Roque, barangay Aposkahoy, Claveria municipality. Also with him standing in the next row are Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members President Elipe and Gerardo Sabal III, and congressional hopeful Jose Benjamin Benaldo. PHOTO BY MARK FRANCISCO

By MARK FRANCISCO

THE provincial government of Misamis Oriental under Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano on Friday (March 8) led the groundbreaking of a 1.5-kilometer road leading to a sitio in Claveria, Misamis Oriental that is populated with a Higaonon community.

The 400-strong Higaonon community in sitio San Roque, barangay Aposkahoy were so grateful to the Emano administration that they decided to rename their community from Pulang Yuta to Banwa PaDayon Pilipino, in reference to the governor’s political party.

Emano added that their Higaonon community sits on an ancestral domain and communities such as this must be developed by the government.

Present during the activity were Sangguniang Panlalawigan members President Elipe, Gerardo Sabal III and Nancy Madjos along with SP hopefuls from PaDayon Pilipino in the second district of the province where Claveria belongs: Dexter Yasay, Syre Mae Emano and Francis Acain. Also present was congressional hopeful Jose Benjamin Benaldo and the PaDayon Pilipino mayoral slate led by Tamboboan barangay chairman Randolph Leuterio and his running mate, vice mayoral candidate Lorimer Casiño.

Emano said the project is expected to be completed before the end of his second term in July.

Aside from the road project, the provincial government also brought doctors from the eight provincial hospitals for a medical-dental outreach in the area including circumcision, minor surgeries and distribution of medicines.

The governor likewise donated two basketballs and two basketball rims for the IP community to use.

In return, the Higaonon community in the area prayed over Emano and his entire second district slate that they may be successful in the May 13 midterm elections.

“Bisan tuod dili nako kaalyado ang kasamtangang namunoan dinhi sa Claveria but visiting their tourist spots such as the viewing deck that they just constructed will help greatly in our aim for Claveria to become the summer capital of Mindanao,” he said.

Emano added that the temperate climate in the said municipality can help mitigate the effects of El Niño elsewhere as farmers there can continue their planting season without interruption.